Wichita Falls Spudders
Encyclopedia
The Wichita Falls Spudders were a minor league baseball
team that formed in 1920 and played its last game in 1957. They were based in Wichita Falls, Texas
.
The first Spudders team ran from 1920-1932 and played in the Texas League
as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns
. That team moved to Longview, Texas
in 1932 and became the Longview Cannibals. They moved to the Dixie League
in 1933 and then the West Dixie League from 1934-1935 and the East Texas League
from 1936-1939. They were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox
from 1934-1939. The team disbanded after the 1939 season.
A second team, also called the Spudders operated from 1941-1942 in the West Texas-New Mexico League
as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds
.
The Third Spudders team operated from 1947-1954 as part of the Big State League (1937-1953) and Longhorn League
(1954). This team was affiliated with the St. Louis Browns
(1938-1951), Boston/Milwaukee Braves
(1952-1953) and Washington Senators
(1954). They moved away and became the Sweetwater Spudders for the 1955 season.
The final Spudders team operated from 1956-1957 in the Big State League as an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers
. They disbanded halfway through the 1957 season.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team that formed in 1920 and played its last game in 1957. They were based in Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
.
The first Spudders team ran from 1920-1932 and played in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. That team moved to Longview, Texas
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
in 1932 and became the Longview Cannibals. They moved to the Dixie League
Dixie League (1933 baseball)
The Dixie League was a class C baseball league formed in 1933, with teams based in the US states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. After one season of competition, the Dixie League was split into the East Dixie and West Dixie leagues, both of them competing in the 1934 and 1935 seasons....
in 1933 and then the West Dixie League from 1934-1935 and the East Texas League
East Texas League
The East Texas League was a Texas-based league in minor league baseball that existed on-and-off from 1916 to 1950.-1916:In 1916, the first East Texas League began play. A Class-D league, it folded on July 19 of that season. The "league champions," by default, were the Palestine Athletics and Lufkin...
from 1936-1939. They were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
from 1934-1939. The team disbanded after the 1939 season.
A second team, also called the Spudders operated from 1941-1942 in the West Texas-New Mexico League
West Texas-New Mexico League
The West Texas-New Mexico League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1937 through 1955. The league was not active in 1943-1945 because of World War II...
as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
The Third Spudders team operated from 1947-1954 as part of the Big State League (1937-1953) and Longhorn League
Longhorn League
The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from through in the Southwestern United States. In , it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through before changing its name to the Sophomore League....
(1954). This team was affiliated with the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1938-1951), Boston/Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1952-1953) and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1954). They moved away and became the Sweetwater Spudders for the 1955 season.
The final Spudders team operated from 1956-1957 in the Big State League as an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. They disbanded halfway through the 1957 season.